Rattlers RBI took the lead late in the game in a 9-7 victory over Ludden on Wednesday. The game was tied at five with Rattlers RBI batting in the top of the fifth before they pulled away for good.
The Rattlers got things started in the first inning when Nicholas Capece singled to right field. After an Ethan Matthews walk, Alan Victoriano doubled on a 2-2 count, scoring two runs (Capece and Matthews).
Ryan Victoriano started on the mound for the Rattlers. Ludden would come back to score one of their own to set the score at 2-1.
The second inning brought in another two runs for the Rattlers as a Devin Christensen double toward left field brought in Jacob Sadowski, who had walked ahead of him. A Dante Klix single pushed Christensen to 3rd base. He eventually scored as walks by Michael Wilkins, Jadien Gunnip and Nathan Doner followed. The inning would end with the Rattlers up 4-1.
With 2 outs in the third inning, Evan Rumpel singled to right field. Alan Victoriano followed with a deep fly ball for a triple, scoring Rumpel. The inning would end with the Rattlers ahead 5-1.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ludden tied things up at five thanks to some walks, a double and an error. Victoriano went three and a third innings, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out five before being relieved by Nicholas Capece. The fourth inning ended with Jacob Sadowski getting the tag on an attempted steal and Capece catching an infield fly ball.
In the fifth inning, Jadien Gunnip hit a fly ball double. He advanced to 3rd base on a passed ball before Nathan Doner drew a walk. Both Gunnip and Doner would go on to steal home after passed balls.
In the sixth inning, a Sadowski single was followed by a Christensen double. A Michael Wilkins single would score Sadowski and a Gunnip single would score Christensen.
Ludden still had a chance in the final inning. With one out, a walk was followed by a hard-hit double to bring in one run. With the tying run at the plate, Devin Christensen (at shortstop) snagged a rocket of a line-drive for the second out – and then stepped on 2nd base for the double-play and final out of the game (the runner did not tag up).
The game ended with the Rattlers ahead, 9-7.
Capece threw three and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen, giving up 2 runs on one hit with 6 strike outs. He recorded the last 11 outs to earn the save for the Rattlers.
Rattlers RBI scattered 13 hits in the game. Hits on the night came from Nicholas Capece, Ethan Matthews, Evan Rumpel, Alan Victoriano, Devin Christensen, Michael Wilkins, Jadien Gunnip and Nathan Doner.
Runs were scored by Nicholas Capece, Evan Rumpel, Ethan Matthews, Alan Victoriano, Carter Henderson, Devin Christensen, Jadien Gunnip and Nathan Doner.
Jacob Sadowski led the team in stolen bases with 3, followed by Capece (2), Doner (2), Gunnip (1) and Dante Klix (1).
MVP for this game was Devin Christensen for his 2 doubles, 2 RBI’s and 1 run on offense, plus his exciting game-ending double-play.